Israeli raids near Beirut; Netanyahu: Syria tried to calm situation

Israeli warplanes attacked Palestinian bases a few kilometers south of Beirut on August 25 in an apparent show of strength a day after Irael was condemned by the five-nation monitoring committee for the lethal attack on Sidon.

Two planes fired four missiles at positions of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command at Naeemeh, 16 km south of Beirut.

There were no casualties reported in the raid, the third on the base in the past month, but the position received some minor damage.

Israeli warplanes also staged a series of mock raids over the eastern Bekaa.

Late on August 25 night, security sources reported a clash between Israeli troops and Hizbullah fighters trying to infiltrate into the eastern sector of the security zone near Rashaya. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Meanwhile Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck an unusually conciliatory tone on August 25, saying that he believed Syria had stepped in to contain last week's fierce escalation of fighting in the south.

"I get the impression the Syrians made an effort to calm the situation in Lebanon," Israeli prime minister said in broadcast remarks during a visit to Japan.